Method for signal adjustment through latency control

ABSTRACT

A method for adjusting latency in a video conference signal originating from a video conference camera and encoder is described herein. Latency in a video conference connection between more than two video conference sites is measured. The latency between each of the more than two video conference sites is compared with a latency threshold. Parameters of the video conference camera and encoder associated with each video conference site are adjusted by a video controller to modify the image quality of the video signal if the measured latency of a respective video conference connection is below the threshold.

BACKGROUND

Latency is the total time delay in the transmission of a signal betweentwo locations. Latency becomes an important parameter in videotransmission for video conference systems, for example, becauseexcessive signal delay can become noticeable and affect the quality ofthe conference.

Video conference systems typically employ video encoders to transmitdata between conference sites via a network (e.g., a private computernetwork, the Internet etc.). Many video conference encoder systems areconfigured to reduce latency as much as possible, to prevent excessiveand noticeable delay in the transmission. However, there is a point atwhich latency becomes unnoticeable, and further reduction of latencyprovides no noticeable benefit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a four cubicles that are interconnected in aroundtable type video conference arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pair of conference rooms interconnected in avideo conference arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representing one embodiment of a videocontroller;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram representing one embodiment of a videoencoding system;

FIG. 5 is block diagram representing one embodiment of a video encodingsystem; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the steps involved in one embodiment of amethod for signal adjustment through latency control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in thedrawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the invention asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to latency in the transmission ofsignals, especially video signals, such as for video conferencing andthe like. Latency is the total time delay in the transmission of asignal between two locations. In a network connection, latency is ameasure of the amount of time it takes for a packet to travel from asource to a destination. In general, latency and bandwidth define thedelay and capacity of a network.

Latency is a relevant parameter in video transmission, such as for videoconferences, because excessive signal delay can become noticeable. Whensignal delay becomes excessive, the experience of the video conferencecan deteriorate. To use a familiar example, when long distance (i.e.international) telephone calls are transmitted via satellite, they cansometimes experience a relatively large transmission delay. This signaldelay or latency can cause the participants to unintentionally talk overeach other, making communication difficult. This same type of problemcan be experienced with video conference transmissions.

One of the key contributors to latency is distance. For example aconnection between two conference rooms on different continents couldexceed 200 ms due to the speed of light and routing of fiber opticcables. On the other hand, a short distance connection, such as betweencities on the west coast of the United States, could have only 5 or 10ms of delay.

Two examples of video conference connections are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.Shown in FIG. 1 are four video conference cubicles 100 (labeled 100 a-d)that are interconnected via a network 110 in a virtual roundtable videoconference session. Each cubicle is at a location that is remote fromthe others, though they are shown arranged as if in a circle. Thecubicles each include a primary video conference display 102 and a videoconference camera 104. The camera takes an image of the participant inthe cubicle, and this image can be shown on the video conference displayin each of the other cubicles. The video conference display device (andother display devices) shown in FIG. 1 is depicted as a flat panel-typescreen, though many types of displays can be used, including CRT's, LCDscreens, plasma screens, projection displays, etc.

The cubicles 100 can also include additional video display devices, suchas a left hand display 106 and a right hand display 108, and can includeone or more additional video cameras, such as the camera 112 a incubicle A. The additional camera can provide an additional videoconference view perspective. The additional display devices can be usedas data displays to provide common reference data to the conferenceparticipants, or they can be used as additional video conferencedisplays. For example, the images of the conference participants canappear in positions that correspond to their position on the virtualroundtable. This can be done in a split-screen fashion on the primaryvideo display 102. That is, the participant in cubicle A sees an imageof the person from cubicle B on the left side of the primary videoconference display, the image of the person in cubicle D on the rightside of the primary video conference display, and the image of theperson in cubicle C in the center of the primary video conferencedisplay. The same roundtable positioning scheme can be followed for thevideo conference displays of the other cubicles. During the conference,one or more of the additional display devices 106, 108 can then be usedto display data or other reference materials to which the participantscan refer during their conference. This helps provide the look and feelof an in-person conference.

Alternatively, in the roundtable format, the images of the conferenceparticipants can appear on the both primary video conference display 102and the additional displays 106, 108 in positions that correspond totheir position on the virtual roundtable. That is, the participant incubicle A can see the image of the person from cubicle B on the lefthand display 106 a, the image of the person in cubicle D on the righthand display 108 a, and the image of the person in cubicle C on theprimary video conference display 102 a in the center. In this way thevideo conference system provides the appearance that the cubicles areadjacent to each other, and that the participants are having aconference between adjacent cubicles, as if there were a transparentwindow between the cubicles.

The video conference environment is not limited to a cubicle sized for asingle person, but can also be a conference room or the like. Such anenvironment is shown in FIG. 2, where two remote conference rooms 200,each containing a conference table 202 and multiple chairs 204 forconference participants, are interconnected for remote collaboration.Each conference room includes a video conference camera 212 and a videoconference display 206 positioned on a front wall of the room. Thecamera of each room takes an image that is provided to the videoconference display of the other room, providing the illusion that theconference participants are in adjacent rooms with a windowtherebetween. Each room can also include additional reference displaydevices 226 for use as reference displays and/or as additional videoconference displays, and additional video cameras 210.

Though not shown FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that the videoconference cameras, displays, reference displays, etc. will typically becontrolled by local microprocessor and data input devices (e.g. a PCwith keyboard, mouse, etc.) to allow the conference participants to seeand hear each other, to view reference materials, and to manipulatereference information. These local devices can be connected to eachother through one or more network systems that allow communicationbetween the various conference rooms. In FIG. 1 the four conferencecubicles are connected via a network 110, and in FIG. 2 the remoteconference rooms are similarly interconnected by a network 210. Thesenetwork connections may include a single local network of computerhardware, or multiple computer networks that are interconnected (e.g.via the Internet) to provide communication between the rooms. Whetherthe video conference is over a single local network or is routed throughmultiple network systems and connections across a vase distance, thesenetwork connections will each introduce some delay or latency into thetransmitted video signals. If this latency is too high, the quality ofthe video conference experience will deteriorate.

However, there is a point at which latency becomes unnoticeable, andfurther reductions in delay provide little or no benefit. Since theexperience in both widely separated and geographically close systemsmentioned can be acceptable so long as the total latency does not exceedsome threshold, the additional available latency (up to the threshold)can be used to provide a higher quality video signal. The inventors haverecognized that adjustments can be made within a camera system that willaffect both latency and consumed bandwidth, while still keeping latencywithin an acceptable range. These adjustments can be varied to ensurethat latency does not diminish the desired video conference experience.Even in a long distance connection, modifications can be made which willallow a lower latency, lower quality encoding to be used and stillachieve acceptable quality.

In this context, it is worth noting that “temporal quality”, whichrelates to immediacy or perceived delay in the video signal, is not thesame as “image quality”. References herein to increasing the quality ofa video signal by adjusting latency relate to increasing the imagequality. The video encoding performed under the method disclosed hereinadjusts video compression (affecting the image quality) at the cost oflatency and/or bandwidth. More latency degrades temporal quality, andmore bandwidth affects the cost of the system.

A block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a controller 300 that isconfigured to adjust the signal parameters of a video encoder 305 isshown in FIG. 3. Some components in FIG. 3 are shown in dashed lines toindicate that these components are not part of the system of thecontroller. Other system embodiments described herein can include one ormore of these components in combination with each other, including amodified version of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

With reference to FIG. 3, the controller 300 can provide an encoderadjustment signal 325 to adjust the video encoder 305 based, at least inpart, upon latency determined between a first video conference node 1and a second video conference node B, after that latency has beencompared with a latency budget 340. Nodes A and B can be individualconference rooms or cubicles or the like that communicate with eachother via a network 330. The controller 300 can include latencydetermination logic 310, which determines latency between the nodes Aand B. The determined latency can then be provided as a determinedlatency signal 315.

The latency determination logic 310 can measure the network latencybetween nodes A and B at connection initiation—i.e. when the videoconference connection is established. Alternatively, the latencydetermination logic can periodically measure network latency in order todynamically react, for example, to changes in network traffic and/ortopology. Latency can increase, for example, if latency intensive tasksare undertaken by any of the nodes that are interconnected in theconference session. Latency intensive tasks can include motion adaption,inclusion of bi-predictive frames (B-type frames), multi-pass encodingand the like.

Shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates an example videoencoding system 400. The system 400 includes the controller 300 and avideo encoder 410. The video encoder can be configured based, at leastin part, upon the adjustment signal 325 to achieve a desired videosignal quality improvement, in view of the latency budget. Onceconfigured, the video encoder can receive a video signal 415, encode thesignal, and provide an encoded video signal 420 output.

Shown in FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates an example videoencoding system 500. The system includes the controller 300, the videoencoder 410 and an input device 510 (e.g., video camera(s) and/ormicrophone(s)). The input device provides the video signal 415 that thevideo encoder can encode.

Provided in FIG. 6 is a flowchart outlining the steps in one embodimentof a method for signal adjustment through latency control. When a remoteconference is initiated, the first step is to establish the connection(step 600) between the remote locations. This can be two locations ormore than two locations.

Another step in the method is to determine the latency budget (step602). The latency budget is a set of one or more time periods, forexample milliseconds. These time periods represent limits on end-to-end(total) latency required for levels of desired performance. A simplelatency budget may contain one time period in milliseconds thatrepresents the maximum latency allowed for acceptable performance.Alternatively, a latency budget could contain multiple time periods thatrepresent increasing or decreasing levels of performance. For example,one may set a latency budget of 300 ms (level 1 performance) and 700 ms(level 2 performance). A latency threshold is a time period stated bythe budget. For example, if a given connection has a measured latencyabove 300 ms, and the above latency budget applies, this connection willexceed the threshold and the budget for level 1, and will therefore fallinto level 2.

The term “budget” is used because various components in the transmissionsystem contribute portions of the total latency, each having their ownlatency. The video encoder latency will consume part of the overalllatency budget. For example, if the overall budget is 300 ms and, at onesite, the network and other components take 150 ms, this leaves 150 msfor the encoder at that site. Thus, the encoder has its own local budgetof 150 ms. The levels of performance and overall latency budget can beestablished in advance, based on psychological experiments that helpdetermine acceptable levels of delay. The local budget for encoding isestablished based on measurement of current conditions.

To allow comparison of the actual latency of a connection with thelatency budget, the latency of the connection must be measured (step 604in FIG. 6). Those skilled in the art will recognize that latency betweennodes can be determined by a variety of methods. Measurement of latencycan be based, for example, upon a “ping” command, which is a utilitythat can determine whether a specific network address is accessible.With the ping command, a data packet is sent to a specified address, andthe elapsed time is measured until the specified address provides areturn packet. Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the latencydetermination logic 310 determines the latency to be about one-half ofthe period of time from sending of the data packet to receipt of thereturn packet. Alternatively, the latency determination logic can issuea pre-determined quantity of ping commands, and determine latency basedon the longest observed latency. This method helps take into accountanomalies associated with routing delays for various paths that mayexist between the first node and the second node.

As yet another alternative, latency can be based upon predeterminedvalues. For example, with a private network having a known topology,predetermined latency values can be stored in memory (e.g., in a lookuptable), and the latency determination logic can simply refer to thesevalues. The determined latency signal 315 can therefore be based, atleast in part, upon the stored latency associated with the particularnodes participating in the video conference.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the adjustment signal 325 isprovided to allow or cause the encoder 305 to adjust its video outputparameters. Via the adjustment signal, the encoder adjustment logic 320can adjust the video signal output of the encoder in a variety of waysthat can increase, decrease and/or leave the latency unmodified. This isdone by adjusting the encoding process used by the encoder in a varietyof ways discussed below.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the encoder adjustment is made based upon acomparison of the detected latency with the latency budget (step 606).The decision to adjust latency and the extent to which the latency canbe adjusted can be based on a threshold latency value. A latencythreshold value is an acceptable network latency where video quality isnot significantly impacted. For example, an 80-millisecond latency mayhave been determined to be an acceptable threshold latency where a videoconference session has acceptable quality and speed. This may bedetermined based on user satisfaction with video conference sessionsoperating at the threshold latency, other user perceptions of quality,and/or a selected latency value. Thus, after comparison of the measuredlatency with the latency budget (or as part of it), the system considerswhether the measured latency is below the latency threshold (step 608).There can also be multiple latency thresholds, such as low, medium orhigh latency, for example. The system can be set to one threshold byuser selection, or the system can be programmed with operationalcriteria for selecting one latency threshold over another.

For a selected network connection between two particular nodes, thedetermined latency can be compared to the threshold latency. If thedetermined latency is at or about the threshold (i.e. neither above norbelow the threshold) as determined at step 608, the video output qualitycan be left unmodified (e.g., no adjustment signal provider and/oradjustment signal left unmodified), and the system can simply wait sometime interval t (step 610) before measuring the latency again (step604). If the determined latency is above the threshold (i.e. the answerto the query at step 608 is “No”), the adjustment signal can beconfigured to make no change in the video output quality, and simplywait some time interval t (step 610) before measuring the latency again(step 604). Alternatively, where the determined latency is above thethreshold, the adjustment signal can be set to cause the video encoder(305 in FIG. 3) to make adjustments to decrease latency. Suchadjustments can cause the video camera to decrease the quality of thevideo output signal, or to increase bandwidth, or other options toreduce latency. If latency is too long (above threshold), we have theoption of doing nothing (first part of paragraph) or making anadjustment to lower latency.

However, if the determined latency is less than the threshold (e.g., apredetermined latency threshold and/or a dynamically determined latencythreshold) as determined at step 608, the encoder adjustment logic (320in FIG. 3) can provide an appropriate encoder adjustment signal (325 inFIG. 3) to adjust the signal parameters to improve the video outputsignal as indicated at step 612. The adjustment signal can be configuredto adjust the quality of the video output signal in a variety of ways.Depending on the available latency, different parameters can be setwithin a camera. For example, the adjustment signal can switch the videoresolution between HD or SD resolution (or other resolutions). It canapply an image-smoothing algorithm to improve the image. It can adjustthe camera frame rate, or it can switch between progressive andinterlaced scanning. While all of these have the ability to affectperformance of the system, they can also affect the latency in differenttypes of processing.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the encoder adjustment logic 320 can alsoinclude an optimization algorithm that takes into account the variousparameters that can be varied, such as those listed above. The algorithmcan include minimum quality levels and maximum bandwidth levelsprogrammed into it. This algorithm can be used to optimize the camerasettings (i.e. the settings of the video encoder 305) to allow a certaindesired latency level, and obtain the best possible video signal thatcan be attained at that level. This optimization algorithm can be basedon a latency look-up table, a traditional optimization algorithm, orother optimization systems.

As an alternative to an optimization algorithm, the encoder adjustmentlogic can be programmed to provide an encoder adjustment signal 325 thatcauses the video encoder 305 to minimize bandwidth, maximize videoquality, minimize latency, or minimize a function that is a combinationof all three parameters. For example, assuming the encoder is a variablebit-rate encoder, the adjustment signal can provide one or more encodingparameters for the encoder to employ that increase the transmissionbit-rate, which reduces latency by using increased bandwidth. As anotherexample, when the latency is below a threshold, the encoder can be setto decrease the bit-rate, which increases latency and uses lessbandwidth. If there are multiple thresholds (e.g. low, medium and highlatency) corresponding to low medium and high perceived immediacy, it ispossible to select a higher latency to achieve better bandwidthallocation. Selecting a higher latency threshold can also be undertakento increase quality at constant bandwidth since there is a directrelationship between quality and latency. In this case, one can tradeoff latency to retain quality using latency thresholds as a guide helpsus insure that the experience is constant and exceptable. It is alsopossible to balance latency across multiple signals (e.g. in amultipoint video conference session) at lower or higher latencies in amultiple latency threshold model.

Alternatively, the adjustment signal can set a quantity of bufferframes, identify one of the plurality of available encoders to employand/or identify one of a plurality of compression algorithms to employ(e.g., Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), MPEG-s, MPEG-4,International Telecommunication Union (ITU) H.126, ITU H.263, H.264 andthe like). It will be appreciated that the types of parameters that canbe selected to adjust the encoder will vary based on the type of encoderused and the type of available parameters that are configured with theencoder.

With respect to a multipoint network connection (e.g., more than twonodes), a determined latency signal 315 can be obtained for each site.The encoder adjustment logic 320 can then provide an adjustment signal325 based on the determined latency signal (e.g., on the longestdetermined latency). In one embodiment, the encoder adjustment logic canfurther provide an adjustment signal based on latency informationreceived from one or more of the one or more sites (e.g., adjusted tobalance and/or equalize latency between multiple nodes for example, tobe within a specified tolerance).

In one embodiment, the encoder adjustment logical 320 can provide theadjustment signal 325 based on the information associated with the videoconference to be conducted between the nodes. For example, with a paidvideo conference service, transmission quality (e.g., high, medium, low)can be proportional to a price paid. Thus, for example, the latencythreshold and video output quality can be balanced for a videoconference of a particular customer that decided upon a particularquality. Where a low quality conference is considered acceptable, thelatency threshold can be relatively high, with correspondingly highvideo quality but greater delay, or the latency threshold can be keptrelatively low for minimal delay, with a corresponding decrease in videoquality. A variety of combinations of latency and video quality can beused to address a particular desired quality level.

In another embodiment, the encoder adjustment logic 320 can perform astatic adjustment based on the determined latency signal 315. Forexample, for a determined latency signal of 15 milliseconds (ms) and apredetermined threshold of 80 ms, the encoder adjustment logic canprovide an adjustment signal 325 to increase latency by 65 ms (e.g.,relative adjustment value). Alternatively, the encoder adjustment logiccan provide an adjustment signal to increase latency to 80 ms (e.g.,absolute adjustment value). Of course, the encoder may not be capable ofbeing set to a selected latency but rather can have various outputsignal parameters adjusted (e.g. the parameters discussed above) tochange its encoding process in ways that are known to increase latency.

In yet another embodiment, the encoder adjustment logic 320 candynamically determine the encoder adjustment signal 325 based, at leastin part, upon the determined latency signal 315 for additionalinformation. For example, the encoder adjustment logic can employinformation regarding network traffic, network topology and/oranticipated network bandwidth. Thus, the encoder adjustment logic can bemade to adapt to system changes.

Referring back to FIG. 6, after the encoder adjustment signal has beenprovided to the encoder at step 612, the controller can wait some time t(step 610) before returning to step 604 to again determine latencybetween the various nodes to confirm that the encoder adjustment signalhas the intended effect on latency, and repeat the above steps in casethe encoder adjustment signal has not had the desired effect, or ifconditions have changed. In the event that the desired latency has notbeen achieved, the encoder adjustment signal can be modified asdiscussed above. Thus, the adjustment signal can be adaptively modifiedbased on observed confirmation. The observed conditions can furtherinclude, for example, in-room performance feedback (e.g., adjustment oflatency of an encoder until the room performance is satisfactory, asindicated by users of the video conference system).

This system and method disclosed herein thus allows the quality of avideo signal to be adjusted in ways that increase latency if measuredlatency is below a threshold. The threshold can be a single maximumacceptable latency value, or it can represent any of several latencylevels, which can be considered acceptable in different circumstances.The system and method can also be used to substantially maintain imagequality, while increasing latency and decreasing bandwidth if measuredlatency is below the threshold. The system and method allows one to setthresholds for both latency and image quality, and allows a user tominimize bandwidth in some cases. If additional latency can betolerated, or latency can be moved to a higher threshold, one can raiselatency to maintain quality at decreased bandwidth.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements areillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artthat numerous modifications can be made without departing from theprinciples and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.

1. A method comprising: a) measuring latency in video conferenceconnections between more than two video conference sites participatingin a video conference; b) comparing the measured latency for eachconnection to a latency threshold; c) based on results of comparing themeasured latency for each connection to the threshold, determining, foreach of at least two particular ones of the connections, that themeasured latency is below the threshold, where each of the particularconnections enables transmission of a video signal from an associatedvideo conference camera and encoder at one of the video conference sitesto another one of the video conference sites; and d) for each of theparticular connections, adjusting, using a video controller, parametersof the associated video conference camera and encoder to increase aresolution of the video signal while maintaining bandwidth consumed bytransferring the video signal at or below the bandwidth consumed bytransferring the video signal prior to adjusting the parameters toincrease the resolution as a consequence of having determined that themeasured latency of the connection is below the threshold.
 2. The methodin accordance with claim 1, wherein adjusting parameters of theassociated video conference camera and encoder to increase theresolution of the video signal comprises adjusting the resolution of thevideo signal from standard definition (SD) to high definition (HD). 3.The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein adjusting parameters ofthe associated video conference camera and encoder comprises applying anoptimization algorithm to modify settings of the encoder to obtain abest possible video signal at a desired latency level that is below thethreshold.
 4. A method comprising: a) establishing a latency budget, thelatency budget defining a latency threshold for video conferenceconnections connecting more than two video conference locationsparticipating in a videoconference; b) measuring latency in each videoconference connection; c) comparing each latency measurement with thelatency threshold; d) based on results of comparing each latencymeasurement with the latency threshold, determining that the measuredlatency in each of at least two particular ones of the connections isbelow the threshold, each of the particular connections enablingtransmission of a video signal from an associated video conferencecamera and encoder system at one of the video conference locations toanother one of the video conference locations; and e) for each of theparticular connections, as a consequence of having determined that themeasured latency in the connection is below the threshold, initiatingadditional image processing to the video signal to improve image qualityof the video signal while maintaining a bandwidth consumed bytransferring the video signal at or below the bandwidth consumed bytransferring the video signal prior to initiating the additional imageprocessing to the video signal to improve the image quality of the videosignal.
 5. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein establishingthe latency budget comprises programming the video conference camera andencoder system with a single maximum latency level that is consideredacceptable.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 4, whereinestablishing the latency budget comprises programming the videoconference camera and encoder system with multiple selectable latencylevels.
 7. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein initiatingadditional image processing to the video signal includes initiatingapplication of an image-smoothing algorithm to the video signal.
 8. Themethod of claim 4 wherein initiating additional image processing to thevideo signal to improve image quality of the video signal as aconsequence of having determined that the measured latency in theconnection is below the threshold includes initiating additional imageprocessing to the video signal prior to encoding the video signal toimprove image quality of the video signal.
 9. A computer-implementedmethod comprising: accessing an indication of an acceptable latencylevel for a network connection for a video conference; accessing anindication of latency in a network connection that connects a firstvideo conference endpoint and a second video conference endpoint duringa video conference and that enables a transfer of a video signal fromthe first video conference endpoint to the second video conferenceendpoint during the video conference; accessing an indication of currentbandwidth consumed by transferring the video signal; comparing, using aprocessing element, the latency in the network connection to theacceptable latency level; based on results of comparing the latency inthe network connection to the acceptable latency level, determining,using a processing element, that the latency in the network connectionis less than the acceptable latency level; and as a consequence ofhaving determined that the latency in the network connection is lessthan the acceptable latency level, increasing a resolution of the videosignal while maintaining the bandwidth consumed by transferring thevideo signal with increased resolution at or below the currentbandwidth.
 10. A computer-implemented method comprising: accessing anindication of an acceptable latency level for a network connection for avideo conference; accessing an indication of latency in a networkconnection that connects a first video conference endpoint and a secondvideo conference endpoint during a video conference and that enables atransfer of a video signal from the first video conference endpoint tothe second video conference endpoint during the video conference;comparing, using a processing element, the latency in the networkconnection to the acceptable latency level; based on results ofcomparing the latency in the network connection to the acceptablelatency level, determining, using a processing element, that the latencyin the network connection is less than the acceptable latency level; andas a consequence of having determined that the latency in the networkconnection is less than the acceptable latency level, applyingadditional image processing to the video signal prior to encoding thevideo signal for transmission from the first video conference endpointto the second video conference endpoint while maintaining a bandwidthconsumed by transferring the video signal at or below the bandwidthconsumed by transferring the video signal prior to applying theadditional image processing to the video signal.
 11. The method of claim10 further comprising increasing the camera frame rate as a consequenceof having determined that the latency in the network connection is lessthan the acceptable latency level.
 12. The method of claim 10 furthercomprising adjusting a video scanning mode as a consequence of havingdetermined that the latency in the network connection is less than theacceptable latency level.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein adjustingthe video scanning mode includes switching from an interlaced videoscanning mode to a progressive video scanning mode.
 14. The method ofclaim 10 wherein applying additional image processing to the videosignal prior to encoding the video signal for transmission from thefirst video conference endpoint to the second video conference endpointas a consequence of having determined that the latency in the networkconnection is less than the acceptable latency level includes applyingan image smoothing algorithm to the video signal prior to encoding thevideo signal for transmission from the first video conference endpointto the second videoconference endpoint.